Children and Families Policy

Classification
For the purposes of this policy:

• Children are persons aged 0–9.
  
• Youth are persons aged 10–15.
  
• Teens are persons aged 16–18.

 

All individuals under 18 are legally considered minors. Youth (10 and older) may attend the Drake Academy program. This policy primarily focuses on Children and Youth (ages 0–15).

Wristbands

All minors must wear wristbands indicating their age group, as assigned during registration.
Minors must be able to show their wristband to staff and other participants upon request. Adults are expected to adjust their behavior appropriately in the presence of minors.
Child Welfare Officers (CWOs)

The Drake Academy staff serve as the designated Child Welfare Officers (CWOs) at DrachenFest US. They are responsible for ensuring the safety and well-being of children participating in the Drake Academy program and in the broader event.

CWOs:

• Are federally background-checked education professionals.
• Manage behavioral and disciplinary issues involving child participants.

• Coordinate with the Operations team for effective policy implementation.
  
• Are mandatory reporters and must report any suspected abuse, inappropriate behavior, or boundary violations. 

Parental Consent and Accompaniment

All minors must have written consent from a parent or guardian to attend, and be registered alongside at least one adult guardian. 

• Children (0–9) and Youth (10–15) must be accompanied by a designated adult guardian at all times. 
• CWOs are automatically designated guardians when supervising minors.
• Guardians may designate temporary guardianship to others at their own discretion. The registered guardian is still responsible for their child’s behavior even when under another’s care. 

Responsibility and Risk Acknowledgement

While DrachenFest US and the Drake Academy team take all reasonable measures to protect the safety of minors, we cannot guarantee the behavior of all adult participants. CWOs are on call for child-related emergencies but are only responsible for minors during official Drake Academy hours (10:00 AM – 6:00 PM). Outside these hours and outside CWO presence, guardians are fully responsible for the safety and supervision of their minors.

Direct Supervision
Children and youth must remain within sight or in the same area as their designated guardian.
They may be in the same general location (e.g., within a camp, on a Bazaar street) but are not permitted to move between areas alone (such as from one camp to another, or the Bazaar to a camp).

Supervision Requirements by Age Group:

• Children (0–9): Must remain within direct sight and supervision of their designated guardian or a CWO at all times. They are not permitted to move independently between areas or remain unaccompanied in any zone.
  
• Youth (10–15): Must remain in the same general area as their designated guardian or CWO (e.g., same camp, game zone, or street) and must have supervision during any participation in game mechanics.
  
• Teens (16–18): May navigate the game world independently. They do not require direct supervision but must adhere to all posted restrictions, including exclusion from 18+/21+ areas.

If event staff encounter an unaccompanied child or youth (under 16), the minor must be able to identify and lead staff to their designated guardian, who must be present in the same area. If they cannot do so, the guardian on record will be held responsible for a policy violation. Repeated infractions may result in removal from the event.

Communication Protocol
Parents and guardians must carry a charged and functioning phone at all times to ensure they are reachable for urgent communication. Guardians must be reachable by their children and by event staff at all times.

• If a guardian cannot be reached or a child is found unsupervised, disciplinary action may be taken.
  
• Guardians may delegate supervision to another registered adult but must remain reachable at all times.

Game commitments must never take priority over child safety.

Curfew
All minors must be in their camps by 10:00 PM unless directly accompanying their designated guardian. Under no circumstances may a minor enter any 18+ or 21+ areas, even with their guardian. 

Game Mechanics Access
Children (0–9) and Youth (10–15) have restricted interaction with game mechanics at DrachenFest US.

Neither age group:

• Receives character sheets or HP
  
• May independently use spells, abilities, or participate in combat

Children (0–9)

• May assist their guardian with certain mechanics (e.g., aiding in spellcasting), but:
  
  
• All effects are attributed to the adult’s character
  
• If the guardian has a limited-use ability (e.g., once per day), it is considered used even if the child performs the action
  
• These interactions may not occur on the battlefield

Youth (10–15)

• May assist their guardian with mechanics (same restrictions as above), and may also:
  
• Attend guild trainings
  
• Receive skill cards

Youth may use these skills independently while they are participating in official Drake Academy activities or otherwise under the direct supervision of a Child Welfare Officer (CWO) or their Guardian.   

Weapons and Combat

Children and youth may carry LARP-safe weapons for training but are not permitted to use them freely during gameplay. Children and youth under 16 are prohibited from entering active battlefields and must remain behind backline or healing areas.

Roleplay Combat Rules

Roleplay combat involving Children or Youth is allowed only under the following conditions:

• Verbal agreement is given by all parties
  
• A guardian or Child Welfare Officer (CWO) is present
  
  

Children and Youth may not initiate combat with adults unless explicitly agreed upon in advance and properly supervised.

• There are no required mechanical consequences (e.g., HP loss or character death) in roleplay combat involving minors; participants may always opt out.
  
  
• Children and Youth may roleplay injury and visit Limbus areas under supervision.

Children and youth must demonstrate the ability to follow rules, exert self-control, and play safely before they can engage in surprise or sneak attacks. Repeated failure to follow combat rules - such as a child or youth making repeated attacks on adults or other children without verbal agreement or direct supervision - may result in removal of the minor and their guardian. 

Physical Interaction and Roleplay Boundaries
All participants must obtain verbal consent before initiating physical or simulated physical interaction. Minors are strictly prohibited from engaging in any intimate or sexual roleplay, including simulations. 

• Adults are expressly prohibited from initiating or attempting any romantic, flirtatious, emotionally intense, or sexually suggestive roleplay with minors. This applies regardless of the in-game context, character age, or whether the minor initiates the interaction.
• Any violation will result in immediate expulsion.
• No one except a minor's guardian should ever be alone in a private tent or enclosed space with a minor. This includes both in-game and out-of-game tents. If someone is observed repeatedly attempting to be alone with a minor, report immediately to staff.

Age-Appropriate Content

Some areas and content at DrachenFest US are not suitable for minors:

• Explicitly marked 18+ or 21+ zones are strictly off-limits to all minors.
  
  
• Certain locations may become restricted at specific times, such as during evening hours in drinking establishments.
  
  
• Mature roleplay scenes may occur in public areas, including Ritual Circles and other high-traffic zones.

Guardians are responsible for evaluating whether a space is appropriate for their child or youth and must promptly remove them from areas where mature content is present.

Teen-Specific Content Guidelines

• Teens (16–18) may participate in age-appropriate dramatic roleplay without constant supervision but must still adhere to all rules.
• Teens may not engage in any illegal behavior, including but not limited to underage drinking, drug use, or sexual activity. All local Pennsylvania laws and ordinances apply.

Content Sensitivity & Participant Comfort:

• Adult participants may, at any time, ask that a child, youth, or their guardian remove themselves from a scene or area if the content feels inappropriate for minors—this includes depictions of violence, horror, grief, or intense emotional conflict.
• This request is based on the comfort and boundaries of roleplayers involved, and does not require justification beyond that discomfort.
• If asked, guardians are expected to comply immediately and without argument, regardless of whether they personally consider the content suitable.

Child-Safe Zones

The Drake Academy is a designated child-safe zone at DrachenFest US. Child Welfare Officers (CWOs) may also establish mobile child-safe zones where children can participate in LARP activities under adult supervision.

Within these spaces:

• The comfort and safety of children takes priority.
  
• Adults engaging in mature, violent, or otherwise inappropriate roleplay (as determined by a DFUS CWO) may be asked to vacate the area immediately.
  
• CWOs and Drake Academy staff do not need to justify these requests beyond their assessment of appropriateness for minors.
  
• All participants are expected to comply without argument.

Outside of these zones, the broader game world is not guaranteed to be child-safe. It is the guardian’s responsibility to remove their child or youth from any space where content may be unsuitable. 

Questions or Concerns
For any questions or concerns about this policy, please contact the Operations team or visit the Drake Academy headquarters on-site.